LATE OR MISSING PAPERS

I believe that setting due dates and strictly adhering to them is a good life lesson. Therefore, I feel that I must give a penalty for late or missing papers. Please be assured, whenever a due date is set, it will be announced in class well ahead of time, posted on the board, students will be given the opportunity to write it into their planners, and it will be posted on our classroom website. Here is my yearlong policy concerning late or missing papers:

1. Since the answer to Focus Questions is given in class when they are handed in, they cannot be handed in late. Therefore, a zero will be entered into my grade book.
2. Lab reports and other major assignments must be handed in when collected on the due date. If they are not, they can be handed in the next day for a 10% deduction in the grade. After the second day, they cannot be handed in and a zero will be entered into my grade book.
3. In accordance with the student handbook policy, students who are going to be absent due to family obligations should contact me ahead of time to let me know they will not be in class. If it is a short term absence that is in the very near future, I might be able to give the assignment to them ahead of time. However, it is completely up to the student to approach me afterwards to make sure there are no missing assignments due to the absence.
4. In accordance with the student handbook policy, students who miss work due to other obligations in the school, such as music lessons or sport events, are completely responsible for making up any missing work and meeting all deadlines. Please feel that you can approach me and I will be happy to help or find a classmate for you who can give you your assignments.
5. In accordance with the student handbook policy, students who are absent for any reason are completely responsible for approaching me and finding out what he/she has missed. Many times, a parent can call the office and request missing work on the day of the illness so it can be left in the office for pickup. Missing work can often be brought home by a friend too. However, depending on the nature of the assignment, some assignments will not be able to go home in this manner.
6. Being absent on the day that an assignment was assigned is not a valid excuse for missing a due date. Students should always see me immediately upon return to find out what assignments have been given.
7. I will always work with students who have been sick for an extended period of time to make special arrangements and avoid becoming overwhelmed.

NOTE: If a student is absent on the day that an assignment is due or there is an unusual situation that makes it impossible to meet the deadline, I will absolutely make alternate arrangements for makeup. Please just drop me a note and we can work something out. However, missing assignments need to be addressed at least 10 school days before mid-terms and grades close if missing work is not going to affect what is on these reports.